Latch bolt



Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES HARRY CHESHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA LATCH BOLT Application filed September 1, 1928. Serial No. 303,384.

The present invention relates to latch and bolt constructions and more particularly to a key controlled combination latch and bolt.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved means for latching and locking a movable part, such as a door. to a fixed part; to provide a simple and efficient combination latch and bolt; to provide a latch for a door which serves also as a locking bolt for the door and which can be released from the outside of the door by employing a special key or other implement arranged to operate only with the aforesaid lai ch; to provide a key operated combination latch and holt; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a combined latch and boit, embody/fing one form of the present invention, in laiching position upon a door and frame; Fig. represents an elevation of the other side of the door; Fig. 3 represents an elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing the latch in boiting position; Fig. 4 represents a section on line 44 of Fig l; Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 represents a perspective of one form of key; Fig. 7 represents a detail section showing a modication of the invention; and Fig. 8 represents a perspective of :l modified form of keeper catch.

eferring to the drawings, one form of the present invention is shown as operatively n'xounted upon a door 10 and the frame 11 thereof in order that the door 10 can be hitched and locked through the medium of a latch bar 12. This latch bar 12 is arranged for substantially horizontal movement towards and away from a locking keeper 13 fixed to the door frame 11, and for vertical movement towards and away from a catch 14 also on the door frame 11 and here shown as an integral part of the locking keeper plate if. A guide keeper 16 is fastened to the door l) in position to ensure the bar 12 being propcrly held and guided either into the catch 14 or into the keeper 13 depending upon whether a latching or a locking result is desired.

For operatingl the latch bar 12, its rear end is guided into a lock casing 19 through a side slot 17 which is aligned with a like slot 18 in the opposite side o f the casing 19. A pin 2() projects laterally from the outer side of the har 12 and rides within a slot 21 provided in the front face of the casing 19, in order to support the latch bar 12 in both of its control positions. The bottom edge of the slot 21 is preferably formed with a depressed seat 22 to receive the pin when the latter is moved to the locking position of the bar 12, while the opposite ends of the slot 21 curve downwardly to end seats 23 for the pin 20. Two end seats 23 are provided so that the latch bar can be used interchangeably as a right or left latch and the seat 23 used depends upon the relative position of the bar 12 to the casing 19.

For moving the latch bar 12 horizontally an arm 24 is fixed to a spindle 25 and has an operating end 26 located between the pin 20 and a second pin 27 projectig from the bar 12. Both of the pins 20 and 27 are in the path of movement of the end 26 so that clockwise movement of the end, as here shown, shifts the pin 20 to the right, while counterclockwise movement of the end shifts the pin 27 to the left. The bar 12 follows the movement of the pins 20 and 27 and hence is locked by movement in one direction and unlocked by movement in the opposite direction. Preferably the lower end or handle 28 of the arm 24 is weighted so that it automatically swings to a vertical position after it has been manually operated to shift the latch bar 12.

For the purpose of operating the latch bar 12 from the outside of the door so that the door can be locked and unlocked from the outside, a key hole 30 is provided through the door in axial alignment with the spindle in order that the latter can be engaged and turned by using an implement inserted in the hole 30. As here shown, the spindle end is square in cross section to receive the square socket 31 of a key 32, though any type of key controlled spindle can be used which will provide for locking and unlocking of the latch by one special shaped key. An escutcheon plate 83 is fastened to the door to encircle the hole and give a finished effect.

Manual operation of the latch bar 12 takes place through the provision of an ordinary thumb latch lever 34 extending through the door beneath the bar 12, While a lhandle 35 forms a cooperating part for the lever 34 to open and close the door.

In connection With the locking keeper 13 it should be noted that itis provided with a catch 14 at each side and hence is adapted for use at either the right or the left side of a. door. Also the fastening screws 36 pass respectively through slots 37 so that vertical adjustment of the catches 14 can be accurately made with respect to the latch bar. Likewise the guide keeper 16 is adjustably connected to the door by slots 38 and screws 40 or other fastening,r means.

Since reversibility is quite an important consideration in a latch bar construction.y the lock casing` 19 has the two aligned slots 1T and 18 either of which can be used for guidingthe latch bar 12 and 'therefore it does not matter whether the latch is 'to he at the rightor left side and the reversible requirements met. Vertical adjustment e? the casingr 19 is provided in the slots 4l through which pass the fastening screws 4*.3.

lVhere the latch bar 12 and its parts are mounted upon the face of a door Which sets in troni the face of the frame, the torni of lockingr keeper heretofore described cannot be used and hence to meet this condition a locking keeper 43 is provided. This keeper 43 consists of a plate 44 provided with catch slot 45 into which the end of the latch bar 12 is arranged to seat for latching purposes. Registering with the slot 45 is a `guide slot 46 through which the latch bai' l2 is arranged to slide in order to seat in a mortised hole 47 in the door frame 'for locking purposes. This construction alloi's a keeper to be mounted upon thc inner tace of the stile and makes the latch bar locking control of the present invention operative upon the side of doors which are not flush with the outside face of the stile or frame.

Having thus described my application. l claim:

1. A door latch comprisingr in combination a catch mounted on a door frame. a locking keeper mounted adjacent said catch, guide members mounted on a door in position to cause a latch to engage said catch and said keeper, a latch slidable in said inembers, an arm pivoted to the latch side oi said door, means on said latch arranged 'to be engaged by said arm to respectively shift said latch in opposite directions. and means operated by a key for engaging said arm from the opposite side of said door to loci; and unlock said latch from the opposite sid, of said keeper.

2. A door latch comprising in combinaticn a catch mounted on a door frame, a locking' keeper mounted adjacent said catch` `rfruide members mounted on a door in position to cause a latch to engage said catch and said keeper. said catch, said keeper and said guide members being provided respectively With slots to receive a fastening device whereby each can be separately adjusted to a new position, a latch slidable in said members, an arm pivoted tothe latch side of said door, means on said latch arranged to be engaged by said arm to respectively shift said latch in opposite directions, and means operated by a key for engaging said arm from the opposite side of said door to lock and unlock said latch from the opposite side of said keeper.

Signed at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State ot Pennsylvania, this 31st day et August, 1928.

HARRY CHESHER.

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